‘Treatment is more effective than jail’ : New Brunswick to reintroduce mental health docket

Mon, Sep 18: New Brunswick is set to reintroduce a mental health docket to the provincial court in Saint John this November — four years since the last case was heard by a judge. Adrienne South has more on the program’s reintroduction.

The goal of the program is to allow for better outcomes for those with mental illness. The presiding judge and a mental health team will establish a treatment plan, allowing convicted individuals to obtain medical care rather than be incarcerated.

“The return of a mental health docket in the provincial court in Saint John will provide those with mental illness who plead guilty to a criminal offence a path out of the criminal justice system and into community treatment.”

Gallant says that other regions in the province will be able to benefit from similar programs.

“We’re very interested in scaling up to other regions across the province,” said Gallant.

According to a press release, participants in the mental health docket who refuse to follow the treatment plan or who continue to commit crimes may be reintroduced to the regular court process.